Scientists slurp conductive fluid for paintable solar panels
Scientists at the University of Southern California have developed a conducting fluid that would allow tiny solar crystals, just four nanometers across, to be painted onto surfaces and conduct electricity. While energy generation from cadmium crystals is less effective than dedicated solar panels they do have the advantage of …
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Of course, since cadmium is such a harmless element
And this is going to go over very well with the various environmental protection entities and organizations, since cadmium is such a harmless element.
Oh wait, I forgot: cadmium isn't harmless at all (despite what some Chinese toy manufacturers think) - it is very carcinogenic, which was one reason behind NiCad batteries being largely removed from the market.
Re: Of course, since cadmium is such a harmless element
Indeed, it is very nasty stuff. Not only that it is comparatively rare (about 0.1 ppm of the earth's crust). I would be more impressed with some of these breakthroughs if they did not involve using elements that are likely to end up as another resource problem (as in lack of). I am no kind of bunny-hugging Luddite, I am in fact as keen on innovative tech as the next person but sometimes one has to wonder!
Re: Of course, since cadmium is such a harmless element
Please read ALL the article before heaping scorn.
Near the end of the article you'll find this: "Cadmium is toxic, and the team is now looking at alternative chemicals to grow the cells in."
Re: Of course, since cadmium is such a harmless element
So we are going to have cadmium cells without the cadmium. That woud be a .... erm?
Re: Of course, since cadmium is such a harmless element
Think you are missing the point. It's a starting point, get something working and improve upon it to get something practical
Toxic metals
Isn't cadmium one of the group banned here under the RoSHH rules?
Re: Toxic metals
no you are thinking of cadfael, the toxic monk
Re: Toxic metals
Judging by the way the missus reacts, you'd think my (Harry) monk was toxic.
Re: Toxic metals
funny how that joke got 2 upvotes and yet didn't make any sense whatsoever
"Of course, since cadmium is such a harmless element"
Sodium and chlorine can also be pretty nasty but NaCl is also commonly referred to as table salt - so depends what the actual cadmium compound / salt was.
You mean...
Printable
Like these guys, who are a lot closer to production.
http://www.nanosolar.com/technology
I'd have thought that by the time they've got a workable solution, developments in the application of Graphene in solar cells are going to make this work obsolete already?
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